Nightlight ProjectImproving regional policies to reduce light pollution

and protect and valorise dark night skies

2nd Newsletter

Night Light 2nd Newsletter April 2018

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Content

1. Partner introduction Province of Fryslân.

2. 1st Night Light Peer Review in Hajdú-Bihar County.

3. Peer Review in the Gorenjska Region, Slovenia.

4. 3rd Policy learning Seminar in Fryslân.

5. Nynke Rixt Night Light Architect.

6. Events to come.

7. How to follow us.

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Partner Posters Presentation.

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1. Introduction of Province of FryslânThe Goal

Total darkness. Just the view of a clear an bright Milky Way above your head. Complete silence, only the sound of the waves around you. This is the picture we imagine in our Waddensea landscape.

In the far North of the Netherlands, the Waddensea is located, together with the coastal wetlands and the islands. The Waddenseais the darkest place of the Netherlands, but still lights of the cities and industries of the mainland affect the seascape, even as far as 40 kilometres south from the Waddensea coast.

Our goal is to preserve the dark sky of the Waddensea and to reduce the light emission in the area.

Light pollution affects the eco system, the migration pattern of birds and we find it necessary

to do something about that.

What do we do?

Try to obtain a permanent ‘dark sky’ status for the Waddensea.

Carry out a light scan and execute measurements of light reduction.

Improve our policy rules and develop an action plan.

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Introduction of Province of FryslânWho does it?

The Team

The Night Light team in Fryslân consists of Maarten van den Akker (financial manager), Jessica de Boer (communication manager), Femke van Akker (regional project manager) and Thea Bijma (international project manager).

We carry out the Night Light project in Fryslân and we are the Leadpartner for the international partners as well.

Our team works for the Province of Fryslân.

The organisation

The province of Fryslân is a regional government. Together with the community and the people, the province works on

a beautiful and strong Fryslân.

The community and the people are not only very important in our province but also in the Night Light project.

We try to involve people in villages, to make them aware of the importance of darkness.

Fortunately we do not stand alone but we work together with a lot of regional stakeholders.

Together we stand strong and we are happy to have the chance to work

on such an interesting subject.

Thea BijmaProjectmanager Night Light

t.a.b.bijma@fryslan.frl

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2. 1st Night Light Peer Review in Hajdú-Bihar County

On 18th September 2017 external experts arrived to Debrecen the framework of Night Light – Improving regional policies

to reduce light pollution and protect and valorise dark night skies – project.

The delegation of 8 Danish, Spanish, Dutch and Luxembourg experts consulted

with 20 representatives of different county institutions and organisations about

the reduction of light pollution, the protection of dark sky and its utilisation for

economic and tourism purposes for four days.

Delegated members of the municipalities around Hortobágy National Park (Balmazújváros, Debrecen, Nádudvar, Nagyhegyes, Püspökladány, Hortobágy), experts of the Ministry of Agriculture, energy trade, electricity grid (E.ON Energy Trade Ltd., E.ON Trans Tisza Electricity Grid Company) and lighting technology companies, tourism experts (Association for the tourism of Debrecen and Hortobágy, Hajdúszoboszló Touristic Nonprofit Ltd.), representatives of the Hungarian Road Operator Nonprofit Company, Hungarian Astronomy Association, the Hortobágy National Park and also the nature conservation referent

of Government Office of Hajdú-Bihar County Government took part in the different roundtable discussions.

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1st Night Light Peer Review in Hajdú-Bihar CountyDuring the discussions participants tried to give answers to the following questions:

• *How to reach the threshold of local/national politicians with light pollution issues?

• *How to change the attitude of the public to darkness and how to teach them environmental and eco-friendly behaviour?

*How to attract professional human resources as well as appropriate financing?

*How the hortobágy starry sky park can be more known and recognised on local, national and international levels as well?

*How to decrease light pollution of the park?

*How to utilise/improve the potential of astro- and ecotourism?

*How to have closer and stronger cooperation with the municipalities, farmers, electricity

transmission companies and other responsible authorities (e.G. Road operators)?

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1st Night Light Peer Review in Hajdú-Bihar CountyOn the last day of the peer review, on 22nd September 2017 the international experts presented their preliminary recommendations that will be further explained in the report compiled in the next 2 months. Among others they emphasised that there are greatpotentials in the county which we can be proud of and the have not been fully utilised so far. Therefore, more intensive communication and co-operation is needed from the municipalities and from all other stakeholders as well. The regulatory environment is well organised, but light pollution issues deserve more attention. Considering biodiversity or human health it isimportant to call the attention of not only decision-makers, but also the public to the fact that in certain cases darkness is useful and needed indeed, it is something not to be afraid of but endeavour to.

Additional work is needed to reach that the different touristic attractions would not compete but complement each other. Offers should not be insular but complex packages.

Mr. Zoltán Pajna, president of Hajdú-Bihar County General Assembly ensured the experts and the participants of the closing event that the County Government will consider their suggestions and recommendations by all means, work goes on in the framework of the project, the regional stakeholder group meets regularly and the county together with the experts endeavour to give the more attention to the reduction of light pollution and to the protection of dark sky on local, county and even national level.

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3. Peer Review in the Gorenjska Region, Slovenia

Towards the end of November, our Slovenian partner BSC Kranj hosted the last Peer Review event of 2017.

Visiting partners came from Holland, Italy, and Denmark. During their stay in Bled, partners visited Bohinj, the Triglav National Park, Kranj,

Ljubljana, and the Škocjan Caves.

Almost right after arriving in Bled, the group attended a presentation at the Eltec Petrol Company

on their EnergyWatch System for Comprehensive Management, which enables effective management

of district energy systems, water distribution systems, systems of effective

lighting and energy management of buildings.

And after that they also visited the Municipality of Bled where they discussed the project

and learned about Municipality’s endeavours for energy efficiency.

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Peer Review in the Gorenjska Region, SloveniaBSC Kranj organized a day-long conference at the Triglav National Park Information and Education Centre, where different speakers presented their views about the influence of light pollution on protected areas and Natura 2000, biodiversity, humans, and astronomy.

Participants also took part in a biodiversity walk to the Mostnica Gorge and later on observed the night sky with a couple of telescopes.

Partners also took part in a “Green tourism products” workshop with students from the College for Hospitality and Tourism Bled, alongside Ms. Jana Apih, Association for Sustainable Tourism GoodPlace.

Students were divided in groups and the best selected product was Dark Sky Camp, where participants would sleep under

the stars, watch shooting stars and call it a Night of wishes,

watch movies under the starry sky, and go on a treasure hunt.

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Mr. Peter Skoberne, from the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning in Ljubljana, presented their work on the national level and in the area of influencing environmental policies and in the field of reducing light pollution in protected areas and Natura 2000.

Visiting partners presented their Peer Review conclusions and recommendations at

a press conference in Kranj, which was well covered by the local and national media.

Before departing the group had time to visit the Škocjan Caves that are on UNESCO's list of

natural and cultural world heritage sites, due to their exceptional significance. There they learned about the installation

of newer energy-saving lights that don’t

upset the cave’s sensitive ecosystem and disable

the growth of flora caused by lights.

Peer Review in the Gorenjska Region, Slovenia

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4. 3rd Policy learning Seminar in the Province of Fryslân3rd Policy Learning Seminar in Fryslân

We were very glad to host the 3rd Policy Learning Seminar in Leeuwarden from the 5th until the 8th of February 2018.

All of our 9 partners were present!

The first day we started off with the steering group meeting in one

of our historical rooms at the province of Fryslân.

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In the afternoon we organised the Policy learning Seminar in the former Post Office of Leeuwarden.

This seminar was dedicated to Dark skies and Light Pollution.

All of the partners enthusiastically presented their state of play on the seminar.

Furthermore we had two guestspeakers.

One of our guestspeakers was Mrs. Marloes Fopma from the Island of Terschelling.

Terschelling is located in the Waddensea and the Waddensea, only 30 kilometers north of Leeuwarden,

is the darkest spot of the Netherlands.

So it is no coincidence that the first Dark Sky Park of the Netherlands is located on the Island of Terschelling.

Mrs. Marloes Fopma showed that thousands of stars and the Milky Way can be seen in this Dark Sky Park De Boschplaat because there is no light

pollution.

There is light pollution on the mainland, though, and this affects animals, flora and fauna even in the Waddensea area.

Therefore measurements have to be taken.

3rd Policy learning Seminar in the Province of Fryslân

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To strengthen darkness in the Waddenarea and to reduce light pollution no less than 43 parties signed the Declaration of Intent Dark Sky World Heritage in October 2016.

Consequently, a Light Scan was carried out. A light specialist therefore visited the 43 involved organisations and showed the possibilities

to reduce light emission.

Next the specialist is going to discuss with the organisations which measurement will be actually realized.

Our 2nd guestspeaker was Mrs. Nynke Rixt Jukema. A result of the 2nd Policy learning Seminar was the understanding of the importance of enrolling the local communities within the project.

Therefore architect Nynke Rixt Jukema presented on this 3rd seminar

a way how to engage villages in the Night Light project. Villages must first understand the general aim in order to contribute and

take an active role in trying to reduce light pollution.

Darkness in the night is so much more than just light pollution.

Darkness has to do with silence, health, tourism, innovation, biodiversity

and cultural history.

During the project period Night Light partners will make an effort to involve local communities to the project.

3rd Policy learning Seminar in the Province of Fryslân

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On our 2nd meeting day we visited the Island of Ameland.

On this other island in the Waddensea we learned about the ‘Green light project’.

It turned out that thousands of migrating birds are affected and disoriented by the lights

of oil platforms in the North sea. A pilot with green lights on Ameland shows a

positive effect on birds.

In the evening we visited Zwarte Haan, one of the darkes spots of Fryslân.

Here we could experience silence and darkness and have a look at all the stars above.

3rd Policy learning Seminar in the Province of Fryslân

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5. Nynke-Rixt Jukema.

Architect Nynke Rixt Jukema:

The Province of Fryslân recently assigned me to assist all Night Light partners with a plan

of action to make light polluted areas more dark again.

An architect normally adds light to projects.

It is, therefore, a challenge to think the other way around.

The next two years will be a search for creative ways to deal with that.

A special path which I am looking forward to.

I hope to help the Night Light partners and therefore I need partner’s input.

We have to cooperate in this project part.

Nynke Rixt Jukema

www.nrjarchitectuur.nlinfo@nrjarchitectuur.nl

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6. Events to come..

• Peer review Basilicata Region / Foundation (IT) 26-30 March 2018 (group B)

• Peer review Luxembourg Our Nature Park (LU) 17-18 May 2018 (group A)

• Peer review Fryslân Province of Fryslân (NL) 18-22 June 2018 (group B)

• Peer review Island of La Palma (ES) 01-05 October 2018 (group A)

Group A Group B

Hajdú-Bihar County Government (HU) BSC, Business support centre Ltd., Kranj (SI)

Nature Park Our (LU) Basilicata Region (IT) MateraBasilicata 2019 Foundation (IT)

Island Government of La Palma (ES) Province of Fryslân (NL)

Avila County Council (ES) Samsø Energy Academy (DK)

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7. How to find more about us..

Website :

Twitter :

https://www.interregeurope.eu/nightlight/

@nightlighteu9